Many homeowners would put a commanding view and an impressive garden as two of the main features of their dream house – but realise that this tends to mean a property in the countryside.
However, Birchfield, a substantial four-bedroom house, provides not just an enviable location but is ideally situated in the Black Isle town of Fortrose – and so brings all the benefits of town and country living.
Views from the property look out over Fortrose, the Black Isle and the Moray Firth, while the one acre of beautifully landscaped gardens with its sweeping driveway and meandering paths, provides a stunning sense of grandeur.
The garden is well known to many as the gates to it are thrown open to visiting members of the public each summer.
Joanne Stennett, of estate agents Bell Ingram, which is marketing the property for offers in the region of £390,000, believes the house and garden would create an impressive family home.
Joanne said: “Birchfield is a truly stunning property.
“Not only is it in an enviable and sought-after location – which means you can look out over the whole of Fortrose and the Moray Firth – but it has the stunning garden to match.
“Typically, such a location and scale of property would be found in the country, but Birchfield is located in the pretty Highland town of Fortrose, meaning it benefits from easy access to local schools, shops and facilities.
“The garden is immaculately kept, so for people who like gardening it is really just a case of maintaining it – and admiring it, as many people do each summer when it is opened to visitors – rather than starting from square one.
“Fortrose’s location is also ideal for a family or for outdoor enthusiasts, as there is such a diverse range of sporting and leisure activities available.”
Birchfield is configured with three large bedrooms, all of which have en suite bathrooms.
The house also has a study on the ground floor however, and this room has the potential to become a fourth bedroom due to its size and the fact that it has suitable plumbing in place to instal an additional en suite bathroom.
The large open-plan kitchen has ample space for a dining table and features a breakfast counter and island with a hob for extra cooking space.
The granite worktops and kitchen design make for a contemporary and welcoming atmosphere, yet the AGA and the oak cupboards give a more traditional farmhouse feel.
The day room has triple-aspect windows to further enhance the stunning views.
A dog-leg staircase with wooden spindles and balustrade rises to the first-floor landing and three further bedrooms.
The master bedroom is luxurious, again with fantastic views. The room is L-shaped to accommodate a walk-in dressing area with a double wardrobe with sliding doors.
The en suite has a three-piece suite in white with a vanity unit housing the sink.
There is tiling to dado height and a telephone-style mains shower over the bath.
The house, which has central heating and is fully double glazed, has been tastefully decorated in
neutral colours and is
light and spacious throughout.
The floor coverings are a combination of wood, carpet and tiles.
Externally, Birchfield is set in an acre of the most beautifully landscaped grounds with meandering paths and ornate features.
There are mature trees and flowering bushes which fill the garden with colour.
The garden to the front of the house has a small pond and a pretty hedge. There is also a cedar-wood greenhouse and a second pond on the upper terrace and a small summerhouse in the front garden.
In the village of Fortrose, there’s a small supermarket, bank, chemist, leisure centre, medical centre, golf course and secondary schooling.
Primary schooling is available in the nearby village of Avoch and transport is available.
Fortrose is 14 miles from Inverness, and easily reached thanks to good road networks.
Contact: Bell Ingram on 01463 717799.